The blood sugar level is a measure of how much glucose, or sugar, is in the blood. High blood sugar levels are an indication of diabetes, a health condition characterized by the inability of the body to properly regulate blood sugar levels. Rates of childhood diabetes are rising in the United States, and one out of every three children born in the country after the year 2000 will develop diabetes sometime during his or her lifetime, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are several different types of blood sugar tests, and each has different ranges for normal and diabetic conditions. The ranges are the same for children and non-pregnant adults.
Fasting Blood Glucose Test
A common blood sugar test is the fasting blood glucose test. As the name suggests, this test is performed after you have not eaten or drunk anything for at least eight hours. This test is often conducted first thing in the morning, after you have been fasting overnight. A fasting blood sugar level of less than 100 milligrams per deciliter is considered normal. Levels ranging from 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL are classified as pre-diabetic, meaning you are at risk for developing diabetes. A blood sugar level of greater than 125 mg/dL on two tests is grounds for a diagnosis of diabetes.
Random Blood Glucose Test
If the blood sugar test is performed at a random time, not after an eight-hour fast, the test is called a random, or non-fasting, blood sugar test. Because blood sugar increases after eating food or drinking beverages, non-fasting blood sugar tests are usually higher than fasting blood sugar tests. A level of less than 200 mg/dL is considered normal for a non-fasting blood sugar test. A result greater than 200 mg/dL suggests that diabetes may be present. This result must be confirmed by two or more fasting blood glucose tests.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The oral glucose tolerance test is a measure of how quickly blood sugar increases after drinking a high-sugar beverage. This test is usually performed immediately after a fasting blood sugar test. After blood is drawn for the fasting test, you drink a sugary beverage, and your blood sugar is measured periodically for the next several hours. If your blood sugar levels reach 200 mg/dL within two hours after drinking the beverage, this indicates diabetes is present.
Glycated Hemoglobin Test
A related test is the glycated hemoglobin test, also called the A1C test. This test is a measure of your average blood sugar level over the span of two to three months. A normal reading on the A1C test is less than 6.5 percent. A result of 6.5 percent or higher on two or more tests is another indication of diabetes.
References
- National Diabetes Education Program; Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents; August 2008
- California Department of Education; Type 2 Diabetes Information; April 2010
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Diabetes Overview; November 2008
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevetion; Children and Diabetes --- More Information; March 2010
